[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 15] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 21646] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNIZING THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY FARM BUREAU ______ HON. MIKE THOMPSON of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, September 23, 2008 Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Congressman Dan Lungren and Congresswoman Doris Matsui, to recognize the Sacramento County Farm Bureau on the occasion of its selection as the first recipient of the 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Farm Health & Safety Recognition Award by the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at the University of California, Davis. The award is given in recognition of an individual, group, organization, association or business that consistently strives to reduce agricultural workplace injuries and improve overall health on the farm. The Sacramento County Farm Bureau (SCFB) was established in 1917 to support the Sacramento County farming community. SCFB is also a member of the California Farm Bureau Federation, a non-profit organization of farmers and ranchers with over 90,000 members throughout California. The Sacramento County farmers and ranchers supported by the SCFB produce approximately 75 different crops with a total annual crop value of over $325 million. On September 19, the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at UC Davis honored the SCFB and its leaders, President Ken Oneto and Executive Director Charlotte Mitchell, for its advancement of new agricultural health and safety practices and their development of model farm safety programs. The SCFB exemplifies exceptional involvement in promoting practices not only on the farm, but within communities through health fairs reaching farm workers, their families, and children. Annually, the SCFB hosts a major safety seminar attended by approximately 200 farm workers and 20 employers and supervisors. To ensure a broad audience, all of the classes are offered in Spanish and English. The presenters are experts in their fields and come from a variety of private and public organizations. While the specific topics change each year, presenters always include representatives from the California Highway Patrol, local Fire Departments, County Health Department, CalOSHA, Blood Source, AmeriCorps, UC Davis and State Fund. The Sacramento County Farm Bureau's leadership in bringing agricultural employees together with safety officers and other agricultural safety representatives not only reduces workplace injuries, but improves family health and their communities overall. In the last several years, the SCFB has also expanded its activities to include a well attended Health Fair for families. This major undertaking has enabled many families to receive free medical testing and basic health training that they might otherwise not receive. Additionally, the SCFB sponsors two important programs for the agricultural community: the Young Farmers and Ranchers Program and the Foundation for Agricultural Education. The Young Farmers and Ranchers Program consists of a committee of the Farm Bureau members that organize young people between the ages of 18 and 35 who support the agricultural community. Established in July 2000, the Foundation for Agricultural Education's primary purpose is to provide scholastic financial awards to high school and college students continuing their education at the university level. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in acknowledging and congratulating the Sacramento County Farm Bureau and its leadership for its ongoing service to its members, California's farm workers, their families, and Sacramento's agricultural communities. ____________________